Short Summary

CELTIC REACHED THE FINAL OF THE EUROPEAN SOCCER CUP TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER LEEDS TO GIVE THEM A 3-1 AGGREGATE FOR THE TWO LEG SEMI-FINAL.

Description

CELTIC REACHED THE FINAL OF THE EUROPEAN SOCCER CUP TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) WITH A 2-1 WIN OVER LEEDS TO GIVE THEM A 3-1 AGGREGATE FOR THE TWO LEG SEMI-FINAL. TOT HE THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE OF MORE THAN 130,000 SCOTSMEN, CELTIC OUTPLAYED THE ENGLISH SIDE ON A RAIN AFFECTED HAMPDEN PITCH.

GOING INTO THE GAME WITH A ONE NIL LEAD IN THE TWO MATCH SERIES, CELTIC WERE PEGGED BACK SOON AFTER THE START WITH A MAGNIFICENT GOAL FROM BILLY BREMNER. BUT CELTIC NEVER LOST THEIR FLOW OF BRILLIANT ATTACKING FOOTBALL AND FINALLY PROVED THEMSELVES THE FAR BETTER SIDE.

LEEDS WERE CERTAINLY TIRED IN THE FIRST MATCH, AND THIS TIME THEY CAN POINT TO A GRUELLING FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP FINAL LAST SATURDAY AS ONE REASON FOR THEIR DEFEAT. BUT IN FACT THE ENGLISH SIDE WAS OUTPLAYED BY A CELTIC TEAM WHICH IS NOW FAVOURITE TO WIN THE EUROPEAN CUP FOR THE SECOND TIME.

LEEDS LOST THEIR GOALKEEPER GARY SPARKE EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF.... ONLY TWO MINUTES AFTER JOHN HUGHES HAD EQUALISED FOR CELTIC WITH A HEADER IN THE 47TH MINUTE. HE COLLIDED WITH HUGHES IN THE GOALMOUTH AND HAD TO BE TAKEN FROM THE FIELD ON A STRETCHER. CELTIC SCORED ITS SECOND GOAL AFTER 52 MINUTES....A TERRIFIC SHOT WHICH NO GOALKEEPER COULD HAVE STOPPED.